Computing scale



Sept. 1959 E. A. REUSSENZEHN EI'AL 2906,233

COMPUTING SCALE Filed Jan. 22, 1957 FIG-l INVENTOR. ERNEST A. REUSSENZEHN Bl(-IAROLD GOLDBERG ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice COMPUTING SCALE Ernest A. Reussenzehn and Harold Goldberg, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to The Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application Januar-y 22, 1957, Serial N0. 635,227 4 Claims. (C1. 116-429) This invention relates to computing scales, and more partieularly to an indexing mechanism for a computing scale.

The -invention has special relation to a scale which incorporates a drum type chart and an indexing or reading member in the form of a tape of substantially greater width than thickness arranged with the width thereof defining the correct reading plane for the indicia of weight and value on the chart, as disclosed in the copending application of Kenneth C. Allen and Ernest A. Reussenzehn, Serial N0. 568,371, filed February 28, 1956, and assigned to the same assignee as this application. Such an indexing or reading tape offers definite advantage of accuracy as well as convenience in assuring the chart is read frorn the correet eye osition, and this result is further aided by the provision of diflerently colored surfaces on the tape as was disclosed in the above application. 1

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a mounting mechanism for a reading tape of the above type in a scale which facilitates adjustrnent of the tape into properly accurate relation to the scale chart for the particular conditions of use of the scale, ineluding the loeation of the scale and the eye position most convenient for the operator when reading the scale.

Thus a seale of the above general type is sometimes installed on a counter, where it is well below normal eye level, or it may be monnted on top of a show case or similar comparatively high location where it is near or only slightly below normal eye level. If the scale ineorporates a reading tape as described above, the reading plane established by the width of the tape may be too steep if the scale is on the body case and not steep enough 'if it is on the counter, and further if such reading plane is correetly inclined for one of these locations, it would be definitely wrong for the other one.

It is therefore another object of this invention to provide a scale having an improved adjustable mounting for a reading tape of the above general type wherein the tape may be rotated about an axis generally parallel to the surface of the chart to establish a desired setting of the reading plane defined by the Width 013 the tape in accordance with the desired location of the seale and the normal eye osition of the operator or user thereof.

A further objeet of the invention is to provide in such mounting for independent adjustment of opposite ends of the tape to assure that the entire surface of the tape is uniforrnly related to the chart of the scale.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent frorn the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view, with parts broken away and shown in seetion, of a scale incorporating the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the parts shown in the break-out at the upper right band corner of Fig. 1, showing the improved mounting for the reading tape;

2,906,Z33 Patented Sept. 29, 1959 Fig. 3 is a somewhat schematic view of the reading tape and a portion of the chart, illustrating the mounting of the tape in aeeordance With the invention; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale of the spring holder clip and slotted button which form a part of the improved mounting meehanism.

Referring to the drawing, Which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, and particularly to Fig. 1, a scale incorporating the features of the invention is shown as including a chart housing 10 mounted upon a base 11 and carrying a weight receiving platter 12. Suitable mechanism, such for example as shown in the patent to David A. Meeker et al. 2723113 issued November 8 1955, links platter 12 with a drum chart 15 to provide for rotation of the drurn about its longitudinal axis in roportion to weight applied to the platter.

The chart 15 carries upon its surface suitable indicia ineluding weight designations and price designations arranged generally in parallel columns and adapted to cooperate with unit price designations carried upon a stationary price face 20 (Fig. 2) for computing the price of the weighed articles corresponding to the weight and price per pound. Bracket members 22 are mounted within housing 10 at opposite sides of drurn 15 to support price face 20 across and spaced from the indicia bearing surface of chart 15.

The housing 10 ineludes an opening 23 above the ation of price face 20 in which a cylindrical lens 24 may be mounted to magnify the indicia on the price face and the chart for reading purposes, and an auxiliary or booster lens assembly is shown at 25 for further magnifying the higher and therefore smaller sized and more closely spaced graduations on the chart as disclosed in Allen et a1. Patent 2,742,811 issued April 24, 1956, to the assignee of this application. A suitable light such as a fluorescent tube 28 is carried below opening 23, and a light shield 29 is supported at the upper or opposite edge of the opening to reflect light onto price face 20.

Bach of the bracket mernbers 22 carries an indicator holder clip 30, preferably formed of spring metal and having an elongated slot 31 in one end thereof for receiving one of the mounting screws 32 of bracket 22. A suitable washer 33 presses against holder clip 30 as the mounting screw is tightened. The other end 34 of each holder clip 30 extends at an angle from the main portion of the clip, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4 and is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 4 With the inner surface 35 between the arms 36 defining a circle segment the periphery of which is slightly greaier in extern than but substantially less than 270.

The bifurcated arm receives a button 38 provided with a transverse slot 40 and a circular peripheral slot 42, the latter slot having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the cireular segment defined by arms 36. The buttons 38 thus are received in rotatable relation between the arms 36 of the holder clips. Since the arms will extend about more than one-half the extent of the bottom of slot 42 when the button 38 is snapped into place between them, the buton is retained in rotatable relation Within the bifurcated end of the holder clip.

Referring to Fig. 3, the reading tape 45, whieh is sub- Stantially greater in Width than in thickness, and whieh preferably has the wide sides thereof colored to con trast with its narrow edges or sides is shown in position With respect to chart 15. At opposite ends of tape 45 are suitable abutment means 47, shown as slit rings Which extend through suitable perforations in the tape. The spacing between the abutments 47 is preferably somewhat less than the spacing between the buttons 38, and the Width of slots 40 is such that the thiekness of tape 45 is received within the buttons, but the abutrnent means 47 Will engage the dished side surfaces 48 of the button Thus to fix the tape in position, it is only necessary to spring the holder clips 30 slightly inward, and this results in the tape being held in position under tension, With the free end 34 of elip 30 being flexed inward so that button 38 will be appiroxirr'xate'ly in line or parallel With mounting end of clip 30, as shoWri in Fig. 3 and being rotatable about an axis generally parallel to ihe surface 16.

This mounting for tape 45 offers substantial practical advantages in both the initial assembly and the use of the scale. The clips 30 can be secured in place by tightening screws 32, andthe final er fine adjustment of the reading plane defined by the width of tape 45 may be niade by grasping the ends of the tape and rotating thebuttons 38 by twisting the ends of the tape until the reading plane is properly related to the particnlar location in Whichthe scale is tobe i1sed. The proper tare adjnstrnent may then be -effected to align the zero line with the tape, by means of the conventional tare adjusting mechanism, not shown. Furtherrnore, if any changes in the location of the reading plane should subsequently be desired they may. readily be made merely by adjusting the position of bnttons 38, acgornpanied by appropriate' tare adjustment.

Another importnt feature of this mounting is the provisiorl of separate adjustrnents for each end of the tape. Reding tapes of this type generally are mannfactur'ed from long (hin strips of spring steel, and this material may have a tendency to curl or bend about its longitudinal axis. Such a curl in the tape can be eliminated, Y

and the entire Width of the tape located in one plane, by twisting the ends of the tape independently and thus adjusting the buttons 38 independently of each other. Since the tape thereafter is supported under rnaintained tension, the parts remain as set unless subjected t severe shock or to actual physical contact With some disturbing element.

While the form of: apparatus herein described, constitutes a preferred embodiment of the inventi0n, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited t0 this precise forrn of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a weighing scale the cornbination of a chart having graduated indicia on one surface thereof, a read ing tape of substantially greater Width than thiekness, mechanisrn snpporting said chart and said tape for relative movement in proportion to weight applied to the scale, holder clips mounted at opposite sides of said chart for supporting said tape across the surface of said chart spaced slightly therefrom, each said clip havi ng one end fixed to said snpporting mechanisrn and having a free bifurcated portion at its other end, the inner surface f said bifuroated ends defining circle segments having a pe- 270, a transversely slotted button having a ci r cnla r peripheral slot received in sa1d bifurcated end o f each said clip, and means retaining the opposite ends 015 said tape riphery of more than 180 and substantially lessthan ing abutment means on opposite ends of said tape, mechanism supporting said chart=and said tape for relative movement in roportion to weight applied to the scale, holder clips mounted at opposite sides of said chart for supporting said tape across the surface of. said chart spaced sligntly therefrorn, each said clip havi'ng one end fixed to said supporting mechapi s nr an d having another bifurcated end extend ing gbpv ef s nr faoe of said chart, the inner snrface fsaid bifufctedefidsflefining a circle e ment hari 2s 22 212129?! 2f rn 2re 912 2 189 am! .u2 ar. .afiy an. 2292 a hatten ha in.g a sir9ula perip eral slot received'i'n rotatahle relation ini the:bifurcatgd end 91 291% said s=li1a ash id 1.2 fl9 2 avina 2:? verse slot of sufliciiefif Widfh m rece ive tlie"th ickness of said tape and oflejsswid th than sgii dflabutment means, and the distance between said buttons being slightly greater than the distance between said abutrnent means on said tape providing for tensioning of said tape in its longithdinal diicti"rfbi lhi=i spri ctioii fi;lile l5ifurca'ted'er'ids'of sid enps.-* W

In a v veighing scale, an adjustable mounting fo r a reading "tape f s iibstantii'zillyg rfea ter iilidthfhaii tliiekness td providef' fiiii6 adjs'tinent' of -thereadifi plane dfifid r w.

theinner surfagze Sf said bifnicajted end defining a cir el esjexnent ofslightlv gre ate r diarneier tha1isaid cirdrlar slot in said bu'tton and receivi-ng said brijtonin rotative relation therein the cifcl e segnicht definedby saidbifurcated end bein gteater than andsubstantially less than 270 providing for engagemenfof more than'one ment in proportion to weight applied to the scale, holder clips mountd at opposite 'sides of said charl for supporting said tape across the surface 0f said chart spaeed slightly therefrom,- each saidclip having one cf its ends fixed to saidfsupporting mechanisrh and having it s dtheiend extending OutWardly of said surface of said Chart, abntrnent means on said tape spaced apart a distance slightly less than the distance across said chart between said other ends cf said clips, and means rotatably mounted in each of said other ends of said clips and engaging said abntment means to hold said tape in tensidn in predctermined alignment with said chart surface and toprovide for rotation of said tape along its length about an axis parallel to and spaced frorn said chart surface.

Beiwws- C 9d. n e fi fl i patent NITED STATES A EN S 1669,428 Strachan May 15, 1928 1689725 I-l1irt Oct. 30, 1928 1,706, 519 Booth Mar. 26, 1929. 1729106 HallWood Sept. 24, 1929 2742811 Allen et al. Apr. 24; 1956 

